In a recent press release Olympus Japan stated that 2026 will mark the 90th anniversary of the OM camera manufacturing. Hard to believe they would not honor this with a launch of a new camera. Maybe a new OM-10V which certainly is needed but also certainly not as exciting as new flagship model. So let’s hope they also have something BIG in mind for this year!

Full press text:

A year connected by photos. OM SYSTEM note: Looking back on 2025

The year 2025 saw the expansion of communication formats

This year, there have also been changes in the way we share information.
Previously, we provided information about photography exhibitions held at the OM SYSTEM GALLERY in the “OM SYSTEM PLAZA Information” magazine. However, starting in April 2025, we will retain the ” #TimeToFacePhotography ” interview magazine with photo exhibitors, and move information about OM SYSTEM GALLERY events to the newly launched ” OM SYSTEM PLAZA note
.” In addition to information about photography exhibitions, ” OM SYSTEM PLAZA note ” will also provide information about exhibitions and events held at the OM SYSTEM PLAZA showroom, based in Nishi-Shinjuku.
Even with the change in location, our core mission of “delivering photography and people’s thoughts” remains unchanged. Each note has its own role to play, conveying photography culture in a deeper and more three-dimensional way. This year marked a step toward such a future.

Focusing on the “small universe”

In 2025, a new magazine, ” Invitation to a Small Universe ,” was launched.
Through macro photography, we peer into a world invisible to the naked eye, such as the delicate structure of flowers and the beautiful forms of insects.
What unfolds before us is another universe, hidden right beside our everyday lives.
We hope to continue to carefully deliver the surprises and emotions that can only be encountered with a camera.

Photography and the environment, looking to the future

” Korekara Lab ” is a collaborative project that transcends corporate boundaries to think about the future . Our company is also participating in this project, which is led by the ” #OurEnvironmentAction ” project.

• “A pleasant outdoor experience that starts with ‘taking your trash home’ – Climbing the mountains of Shodoshima”

• “A Bird-Friendly Society #06 – Thoughts on Environmental Month”

We published articles such as these. We
hope that we can continue to photograph beautiful nature and animals in the future.
This was an opportunity to think about small actions that each and every photography lover can take.

Most read thoughts

The most widely read article this year was
“Protecting the mountains means connecting the rock ptarmigan to the future . ”
Approximately 40% of the articles published this year were about animals and nature.
While I wasn’t conscious of it, I believe this is because the medium of photography is inherently deeply connected to nature and living things.
OM SYSTEM note’s “Bird Feelings” magazine will feature articles titled ” A Bird-Friendly Society ” on themes of field etiquette and the natural environment, which will enable us to coexist with birds and continue to enjoy bird watching and photography.

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Pointing the camera at the city and life

In December, we launched the photo essay contest ” #City and Life Through the Viewfinder
.” Four photographers have contributed memorable photo essays to this project. These include
casual snippets of the city where each photographer lives, scenes they stopped to capture while traveling, and cityscapes they want to cherish in the depths of their hearts. The works quietly intertwine familiar everyday life with photographs, creating heartwarming works that evoke memories in readers. We have
also launched a photo essay relay project by our employees, weaving together scenes captured from their own perspectives and in their own lives. The employee photo essays will be published one after another from January 2026 onward.

Rethinking the role of cameras in the age of AI

Advances in image editing software and AI have greatly expanded the possibilities for photographic expression.
Opportunities to encounter stunningly high-resolution, captivating works are on the rise. But at the same time, we’re once again asking ourselves,
“What is the purpose of a camera?”  What OM SYSTEM note wants to cherish is the moment you encounter something, are moved, and take a picture. It’s the connections and emotional stories that are born through a camera. OM SYSTEM note will continue to write “the best visual experience stories that will color your life” together with all photography lovers.

And on to 2026

In 2026, OM SYSTEM will celebrate its 90th anniversary of camera manufacturing, dating back to the days of the Olympus Imaging Business. We plan to publish note articles that convey
the passion that has gone into manufacturing, the accumulated technology, and the challenges we face into the future. We will also begin collaborating with official social media accounts such as YouTube and Instagram to circulate content from our owned media and create synergies.

To everyone who encountered OM SYSTEM note in 2025.
And to everyone I will meet in 2026.
I hope we can continue to enjoy the time and connections that are born because of photography together in 2026.
Please look forward to future OM SYSTEM notes.